When Tracy S. Morris was four years old, she wrote her first “novel” in crayon on the back of a newspaper and gave it to the postman along with an antique silver dollar so that someone could turn it into a novel. She is still waiting to hear back from her publisher.
Tracy’s first novel, Tranquility was published in 2005 by Yard Dog Press. It was the runner up for a Darrell Award for Best Midsouth Science Fiction in 2006. Her second novel, Bride of Tranquility was published in 2009. It was a finalist for the Darell Award in 2010. Both books were picked up in eBook format in 2010 by Baen Books. Her most recent book, The Grantville Inquisitor, which she co-wrote with Brad Sinor, was published in 2021 by Ring of Fire Press.
Tracy has also been a freelance writer, contributing essays and pictures that have appeared in national magazines and newspapers. In pursuit of stories she has photographed presidents and sports legends, but she has also been dragged behind a ski boat in freezing temperatures and horizontal sleet.
Tracy now lives in organized chaos with her husband, two kids and two dogs in Springdale Arkansas.
Noon | Location: Boomer B
Isekai, portal fantasy, and self-insert fanfiction: People love to imagine being whisked away to another world. Discuss the why and how of this phenomenon as well as your favorite iterations.
Moderator: Tracy S. Morris
Panelists: Clinton Girkin, Crazy Red Artist, Ms Fae Mullens, Tracy S. Morris
Tracks: Anime
5:00 PM | Location: Sooner A
Do you need a magic mirror when your phone tells you the news and weather? A flying carpet when you can take a plane? Does magic have a place in a technological world?
Moderator: Tracy S. Morris
Panelists: A. Lee Martinez, J.H. Fleming, Linda Donahue, Loretta McKibben, Tracy S. Morris, Trina Jacobs
Tracks: Fantasy, Pop Culture & Entertainment, Science Fiction
1:00 PM | Location: Boomer A
Hobbits have pipeweed. Star Trek has felicium. Star Wars has glitterstim. Wash the Red or Blue Pill down with a Pan-Galactic Gargle Blaster. Chems, Soma, Nuke, Substance D, Wireheading, Plutonium Nyborg, or even a puff or two from the caterpillar's hookah -- isn't SF already escapism? Why do characters want to escape from the worlds we want to escape to? Panelists discuss the applications of recreational and illicit drug use in speculative fiction.
Moderator: Tracy S. Morris
Panelists: Daniel Erickson, Dara Fogel, PhD, Dr Paisley, Scott Zrubek, Tim Frayser, Tracy S. Morris
Tracks: Pop Culture & Entertainment, Science Fiction, Fantasy
4:00 PM | Location: Sooner A
The adventures of our favorite (though slightly disgraced) Mandalorian and cute little Grogu (AKA The Child) continue after being reunited in the Book of Boba Fett.
Moderator: Tracy S. Morris
Panelists: Evan T. Wardwell, Karen Thrower, Mark Finn, Matthew Price, Sherri Dean, Tracy S. Morris
Tracks: Film & TV, Pop Culture & Entertainment, Science Fiction, Fantasy
7:00 PM | Location: Embassy Hotel: Interior Courtyard - Atrium
Join panelists in the hotel lounge for lively conversation. BYO beverages, please.
Moderator:
Panelists: A C Smart, Aaron Bossig, Bradley H Sinor, Craig Wolf, Daniel Erickson, David J. Pedersen, Dr Paisley, Julia S. Mandala, L.L.Killjoy, Liz Campbell, Mark Finn, Michael "Gecko" Adams, Mike Kennedy, Tim Frayser, Tracy S. Morris, vickey malone kennedy
Tracks: Meetup, General Interest, Writing & Publishing, Art
9:00 AM | Location: Embassy Hotel: Interior Courtyard - Atrium
Join panelists in the hotel breakfast area for morning networking and conversation. BYO coffee, please.
Moderator:
Panelists: A C Smart, Aaron Bossig, Bradley H Sinor, Brook Bullock, Harold Neal, Jeff Provine, Julia S. Mandala, L.L.Killjoy, Laura J. Underwood, Linda Donahue, Mark Alfred, Mark Finn, Michael Cross, Mimic Rae, Ms Fae Mullens, Peri Charlifu, Sally Hamilton, Scott Zrubek, Sue Sinor, Terry Southard, Tim Frayser, Tracy S. Morris
Tracks: Meetup, General Interest
11:00 AM | Location: Boomer A
A long time ago, in a land far away The Chosen One and the Last Girl must battle the Designated Villain. What is a Trope and how can writers use (and mutate) them to surprise and engage readers?
Moderator: Steven E. Wedel
Panelists: David J. Pedersen, John Scalzi, Mark Finn, Sally Hamilton, Steven E. Wedel, Tracy S. Morris
Tracks: Writing & Publishing, Science Fiction, Fantasy
Noon | Location: Boomer A
Comfort food isn't just for the stomach. Readers and authors alike can indulge not only in the culinary aspects of a story but also how food plays a role in developing the culture of another world.
Moderator: Tracy S. Morris
Panelists: A C Smart, Julia S. Mandala, Karen Thrower, Laura J. Underwood, Sue Sinor, Tracy S. Morris
Tracks: Writing & Publishing, Food & Drink, Pop Culture & Entertainment, Science Fiction, Fantasy